Quiero que vengas a mi fiesta de cumpleaños.
I want you to come to my birthday party.18.1.1 (p. 84)
70.1.7 Poder+ infinitive
Like the expression in 70.1.5 above, poder, ‘can’, with an infinitive, can be used when
making formal or informal invitations or offers.
Puede usted quedarse aquí si desea.
You can stay here if you like.
¿Puedes venir a comer con nosotros?
Can you come and have lunch with us?
Podemos llevarte en el coche si quieres.
We can take you in the car if you like.21.1 (p. 99)
70.1.8 Me/nos gustaría que+ subjunctive
This expression with me gustaría, ‘I would like’, or nos gustaría, ‘we would like’, can
be used to make formal or informal invitations or offers. However, the use of me
gustaría/nos gustaría que... in informal address conveys a certain degree of formality
and earnestness on the part of the person who is making the invitation, as if wanting to
commit the person being invited to an acceptance. In formal address it may simply
convey politeness.
Me gustaría mucho que vinieras a mi boda.
I’d very much like you to come to my wedding.
Me gustaría que viniera a nuestra reunión.
I would like you to come to our meeting.
Nos gustaría que estuviera con nosotros en esta ocasión.
We would like you to be with us on this occasion.57.4.2 (p. 338); 18.1.4 (p. 85); 19.2 (p. 95)
70.1.9 Quisiera/quisiéramos+ infinitive
A very formal way of making an invitation or offering something to someone is by
using quisiera, ‘I would like’, or quisiéramos, ‘we would like’, plus an infinitive.
Remember that quisiera is a form of querer, ‘to want’, which is also used when
expressing desires (see 57 ).
Quisiera invitarle/la a nuestra celebración.
I would like to invite you to our celebration.Quisiéramos ofrecerle nuestra casa.
We would like to offer you our house.MAKING AN OFFER OR INVITATION AND ACCEPTING OR DECLINING 70.1